Writing a Strong Concluding Statement for Your Opinion - 5th Grade Writing

SECTION 1

Why Do Conclusions Matter?

Have you ever watched a great movie that had a terrible ending? Maybe the hero just walked away and the screen went black. That would be so disappointing! The same thing happens when you write an opinion essay and forget to end it well. Your reader might think, "Wait — that's it?" A concluding statement is the final part of your opinion writing. It wraps up everything you said and leaves your reader feeling satisfied.

People have been thinking about how to end arguments and speeches for thousands of years. Let's look at how the art of a good conclusion has grown over time.

Ancient Greece (~350 B.C.)

A teacher named Aristotle told his students that every speech needs three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. He said the ending should remind listeners of the main idea and make them feel something.

Ancient Rome (~50 B.C.)

Roman speakers like Cicero ended their speeches with a strong final sentence that summed up their opinion. They called it the peroratio — a fancy word for conclusion.

The 1700s

Writers who created newspapers and essays learned to end their pieces with a call to action. They wanted readers to do something after reading.

Today

Schools teach students like you to write a concluding statement that ties back to your opinion, summarizes your reasons, and gives the reader one last strong thought. That is exactly what we are learning today!

So here is the big question: How do you end your opinion writing in a way that makes your reader nod and say, "Good point!"? That is what this lesson is all about.

SECTION 2

Core Principles of a Great Conclusion

A concluding statement is not just repeating your first sentence in different words. It has its own special job. Think of it as the grand finale of a fireworks show — it pulls everything together in one powerful moment. Here are four key principles that every strong conclusion follows.

Restate Your Opinion

Remind the reader what you believe, but use different words than your introduction. This shows you can express your idea in more than one way.

Summarize Your Reasons

Briefly mention the strongest reasons you gave. You don't need to explain them again — just touch on them so the reader remembers.

Leave a Lasting Thought

Give the reader something to think about. This could be a question, a feeling, or a bold statement that sticks in their mind.

Stay Connected

Your conclusion must relate to everything you wrote. It should feel like it belongs with the rest of your essay, not like a surprise topic.

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of your opinion essay like a sandwich. The introduction is the top slice of bread, the body paragraphs are the yummy filling in the middle, and the conclusion is the bottom slice of bread. Without that bottom slice, everything falls apart! Your conclusion holds everything together and gives a satisfying finish.

SECTION 3

Visual Map: The Opinion Essay Structure

Let's look at a picture of how an opinion essay is built. Notice how the concluding statement sits at the very bottom. It is the last thing your reader sees, so it needs to be strong and clear.

As you can see in the diagram, the concluding statement comes after all of your reasons and evidence. It sits at the very bottom because it is the last impression you leave on your reader. Just like the last note in a song, it needs to feel complete and satisfying.

SECTION 4

How to Build Your Concluding Statement

Now let's get into the step-by-step process. Writing a conclusion is like following a simple recipe. There are three ingredients you need, and you mix them together in order.

THE CONCLUSION FORMULA

Restate Opinion + Summarize Reasons + Final Thought = Strong Conclusion

This is not a math formula — it is a writing recipe!

Ingredient 1: Restate your opinion. Go back to your introduction and find the sentence where you told the reader what you believe. Now write that same idea, but in new words. For example, if your introduction said "I believe recess should be longer," your conclusion might say "It is clear that students need more time for recess." Same opinion, different words!

Ingredient 2: Summarize your reasons. Briefly mention the reasons you gave in your body paragraphs. You don't need full sentences for each one — just a quick reminder. For example: "Longer recess helps kids focus, stay healthy, and feel happier."

Ingredient 3: End with a lasting thought. This is the exciting part. You get to leave your reader with something powerful. You might ask a question, paint a picture of the future, or make a bold statement. For example: "Every student deserves the chance to run, play, and come back to class ready to learn."

Follow these three steps, and your conclusion will feel complete. Your reader will walk away knowing exactly what you believe and why.

SECTION 5

Types of Lasting Thoughts

Step 3 — the lasting thought — is where you get to be creative. There are several ways to end your conclusion with a bang. Let's explore the different types so you can choose the one that fits your essay best.

Strength of Concluding Strategies

Simple Restatement Paint a Picture

STRATEGY	WHAT IT MEANS	EXAMPLE ENDING
Ask a Question	End with a question that makes the reader think about your topic.	"Don't all kids deserve a chance to play every day?"
Bold Statement	Make a strong, confident claim about why your opinion matters.	"Longer recess is not just fun — it is necessary."
Call to Action	Tell the reader to do something based on your opinion.	"Talk to your principal today about adding more recess time."
Paint a Picture	Help the reader imagine what the world would look like if people agreed with you.	"Imagine a school where every kid comes back from recess smiling and ready to learn."
Connect to the Reader	Make it personal so the reader sees how this topic affects them.	"You probably know what it feels like to need a break — that is exactly why recess matters."

You can use just one of these strategies, or you can mix two together. For example, you might make a bold statement and then ask a question. The most important thing is that your ending feels connected to everything you wrote before it.

SECTION 6

Worked Example: Writing a Conclusion Step by Step

Let's say you wrote an opinion essay about this topic: "Schools should have pet fish in every classroom." Your three body paragraph reasons were: (1) fish are calming, (2) they teach responsibility, and (3) they make the classroom more interesting. Now let's build a conclusion together.

Writing a Conclusion Step by Step

1
Step 1 — Restate Your Opinion

Your introduction said: "I believe every classroom should have a pet fish." Let's rewrite that in new words:

"Having a fish tank in the classroom is one of the best things a school can do."
2
Step 2 — Summarize Your Reasons

Now briefly mention your three reasons without explaining them all over again:

"Fish help students feel calm, teach them how to take care of a living thing, and make learning more exciting."
3
Step 3 — Add a Lasting Thought

Let's use the "Paint a Picture" strategy to end with something the reader can imagine:

"Picture walking into your classroom and seeing colorful fish swimming peacefully — it would make every school day start with a smile."
4
Final Conclusion (All Together)

"Having a fish tank in the classroom is one of the best things a school can do. Fish help students feel calm, teach them how to take care of a living thing, and make learning more exciting. Picture walking into your classroom and seeing colorful fish swimming peacefully — it would make every school day start with a smile."

Notice how the conclusion does three things in just three sentences. It restates the opinion, touches on the reasons, and ends with a vivid image. That is a strong concluding statement!

SECTION 7

Do's and Don'ts of Concluding Statements

Even good writers sometimes make mistakes in their conclusions. Let's look at what to do — and what to avoid — so you can write the strongest ending possible.

✅ DO THIS	❌ DON'T DO THIS
Restate your opinion in new words	Copy and paste your introduction sentence
Briefly mention your reasons	Retell every detail from your body paragraphs
End with a strong final thought	End with "That is my opinion" or "The end"
Stay on topic the whole time	Bring up a brand new reason or idea
Sound confident and sure of yourself	Say "I guess" or "Maybe I am wrong"
Use signal words like "In conclusion" or "For all these reasons"	Start with "So, yeah" or just stop writing suddenly

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of your conclusion like the bow on top of a present. You have already wrapped the gift (your essay). Now you need a beautiful bow (your conclusion) to make it look complete. But the bow should match the wrapping paper — don't suddenly switch to a different color or style! Keep your conclusion connected to what you already wrote.

SECTION 8

Looking Ahead: Conclusions in Bigger Writing

Right now, you are learning to write a concluding statement — that is usually one to three sentences at the end of your essay. As you grow as a writer, you will learn to write a full concluding section or paragraph. The same skills you are building now will help you later!

WHAT YOU DO NOW (5TH GRADE)	WHAT YOU'LL DO LATER (MIDDLE SCHOOL & BEYOND)
Write 1–3 concluding sentences	Write a full concluding paragraph (5–8 sentences)
Restate your opinion in new words	Restate your thesis and connect it to a bigger idea
Summarize your reasons briefly	Reflect on how your reasons work together to prove your point
End with one lasting thought	End with a call to action, a connection to the real world, or an open question
Use signal words like "In conclusion"	Use more advanced transitions like "Ultimately" or "When all is considered"

The most important thing to remember is this: the skills you practice now are the foundation for everything you will write in the future. A 5th grader who can write a strong concluding statement is already on the path to becoming a great writer.

SECTION 9

Practice Problems

Time to practice! Try each problem on your own before clicking "Show Answer." Remember the three ingredients: restate your opinion, summarize your reasons, and leave a lasting thought.

Question 1: PROBLEM 1 — CONCEPTUAL

What are the three things a strong concluding statement should include? List them in order.

Show answer

A strong concluding statement should include: (1) a restatement of your opinion in new words, (2) a brief summary of your reasons, and (3) a lasting thought like a question, a bold statement, or a picture of the future. These three ingredients work together to give your reader a satisfying ending. Nice work if you got all three!

Question 2: PROBLEM 2 — IDENTIFICATION

Read this concluding statement: "Dogs are the best pets because they are loyal, fun, and loving. Everyone should think about getting a dog." Which of the three ingredients is missing?

Show answer

The missing ingredient is a summary of the specific reasons from the essay. The sentence says "loyal, fun, and loving" — but those might not be the exact reasons from the body paragraphs. More importantly, the conclusion just says "everyone should think about getting a dog," which is a call to action. But it is missing a clear connection to the evidence the writer already gave. A stronger version might say: "As I showed, dogs help reduce stress, give families a reason to exercise, and provide unconditional friendship." That would clearly summarize the body paragraph reasons.

Question 3: PROBLEM 3 — INTERMEDIATE

An essay argues: "Students should wear uniforms to school." The three reasons are: (1) uniforms save time in the morning, (2) they help kids focus on learning instead of clothes, and (3) they make everyone feel equal. Write a concluding statement using all three ingredients.

Show answer

Here is one example of a strong conclusion: "School uniforms are a smart choice for students everywhere. When kids wear uniforms, they save time getting ready, stay focused on learning, and feel like they truly belong. Imagine a school where nobody worries about what they are wearing and everyone can just be themselves — that is the kind of school every kid deserves." Your answer doesn't need to match word for word! Just check: Did you restate the opinion? Did you mention the three reasons briefly? Did you end with a lasting thought? If so, great job!

Question 4: PROBLEM 4 — APPLIED

Your friend wrote this conclusion for an essay about why kids should read more books: "In conclusion, books are good. I like reading. The end." Explain at least two things that are wrong with this conclusion, and then rewrite it to make it stronger. The friend's three reasons were: (1) reading builds vocabulary, (2) it improves imagination, and (3) it helps you do better in school.

Show answer

What is wrong: First, the conclusion does not restate the opinion in a clear, confident way — "books are good" is too vague. Second, "I like reading" is a personal feeling that does not summarize the reasons from the essay. Third, "The end" is not a lasting thought — it just stops. The conclusion also does not mention any of the three reasons. A stronger version: "Reading more books is one of the best habits a kid can build. Books help you learn new words, spark your imagination, and do better in every subject at school. So the next time you have free time, pick up a book — your future self will thank you!" See the difference? The rewritten version restates the opinion, summarizes the reasons, and ends with a call to action. That is so much stronger!

Question 5: PROBLEM 5 — CHALLENGE

Choose your own opinion on any topic you care about (for example: a favorite school subject, a rule you would change, or something you think is important). Write an introduction sentence that states your opinion, list three brief reasons, and then write a full concluding statement using all three ingredients. Try to use at least two different "lasting thought" strategies from Section 5 (like a question plus a bold statement, or painting a picture plus a call to action).

Show answer

Since this is your own topic, there is no single correct answer. But here is an example to compare yours to: Topic: Art class should happen every day. Introduction sentence: "I believe art class should happen every single school day." Three reasons: (1) Art helps kids express their feelings. (2) It builds creativity, which helps in other subjects. (3) Many students learn better by doing hands-on activities. Concluding statement: "For all these reasons, art class should be a daily part of every student's schedule. Art lets kids express how they feel, sparks creativity that helps in every subject, and gives hands-on learners a chance to shine. What would your school look like if every student got to paint, draw, and create every day? A school full of creativity is a school full of happy, successful kids." This example uses two strategies: asking a question ("What would your school look like…?") and painting a picture ("A school full of creativity…"). Check your own answer: Does it restate your opinion, mention your reasons, and end with at least two lasting-thought strategies? If yes, you are doing amazing!

SUMMARY

Lesson Summary

Summary

A concluding statement is the final part of your opinion essay, and it has an important job: it wraps up your writing and leaves your reader feeling convinced. To write a strong conclusion, follow three steps. First, restate your opinion using different words from your introduction. Second, briefly summarize your reasons so the reader remembers your strongest points. Third, end with a lasting thought — this can be a question, a bold statement, a call to action, a picture of the future, or a personal connection to the reader.

Remember, your conclusion should never introduce a new reason or copy your introduction word for word. It should feel confident, connected, and complete — like the final bow on a beautifully wrapped present. The skills you are building now will help you write powerful conclusions for the rest of your life. Keep practicing, and your conclusions will get stronger and stronger!